How the National Emergencies Trust will ‘Bee The Difference’

As the Bee The Difference report launches today on the sixth anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack, Thelma Stober, Trustee of the National Emergencies Trust and Chair of the Survivors Advisory Forum, discusses how the National Emergencies Trust will help to create change for future survivors of UK disasters.

Dr Cath Hill first approached us to collaborate on this project in 2021. As a member of our Survivors Advisory Forum she wanted to bring to our attention the unique needs and experiences of young survivors of terror because her experience of the Manchester attack was that these often seemed to go overlooked and underserved. This is something I had also reflected on after the 7/7 bombing.

During UK disasters the National Emergencies Trust offers the public one trusted place to donate to support those affected; whatever their age and wherever they are. We act fast to share out funds to survivors and loved ones, and also to charitable groups that can support their needs, from psychological to physical, to financial. It means all new knowledge about what these needs could be is invaluable.

It has been a privilege for our charity to work alongside Cath and the nine inspirational survivors whose courage and creativity have made Bee The Difference happen. With their stewardship and the vital contributions of so many young Manchester survivors, we have a far richer understanding of how to support children and young people in the future should the worst happen again.

We are busy planning how we can incorporate this new knowledge into our support for future young survivors, including:

• Survivor information campaigns that make it as easy as possible for those affected to understand what support we, and other bodies, can offer to meet their needs - in the immediate and longer-term. These need to connect with children and young people directly, as well as with their loved ones
• Financial gifts that can help future young survivors to recover and rebuild their lives. It will be important to give them the flexibility to choose the support that is best suited to their needs, including as these needs change
• Funding for survivor-led projects following future disasters. This will take the onus off those affected to raise funds for informal support initiatives, like the Manchester Survivors Choir, which can clearly be incredibly valuable, including for young people
• Funding for mental health specialists including those that could offer children and young people, or those that care for them, access to specialist mental health support
• Building on Bee The Difference with further initiatives in collaboration with young disaster survivors. These will build on the insights from this project as well as respond to some of the opportunities highlighted by the findings

With ongoing support from our Survivors Advisory Forum, Equity Scrutiny Group and Board, we look forward to creating changes that improve outcomes for future young survivors.

For more information, visit our Bee The Difference page.